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Technology in Cricket
- Shubham Chaudhari
Cricket, often described as the gentleman’s Hot Spot
game, has seen a remarkable transformation Hot Spot is an infrared imaging system
in recent years due to advancements in used to detect ball-to-surface contact. It
technology. These innovations have not helps in resolving situations where there is
only improved the game’s fairness and uncertainty about whether the ball hit the
accuracy but have also enhanced the bat or pad. Hot Spot uses thermal cameras
viewing experience for fans. From ball- to capture the heat generated by the friction
tracking systems to wearable devices for when the ball touches any surface, making
player performance analysis, let’s delve into it visible in the replay. This technology is
the different technologies that have become particularly useful for tracking faint edges
integral to modern-day cricket. that may go unnoticed by the on-field
umpire.
Hawk-Eye Technology
Hawk-Eye is perhaps one of the most Ultra Edge
iconic and widely recognized technologies Ultra Edge, also known as Real-Time
in cricket. It’s a ball-tracking system that Snickometer, is another technology that
provides a visual representation of a ball’s aids in analyzing faint edges. It uses a
trajectory. Initially introduced to aid television combination of audio and visual data,
viewers and commentators in analyzing LBW helping broadcasters and third umpires to
(leg before wicket) decisions, Hawk-Eye has ascertain whether there was any contact
become a vital tool for umpires as well. between the ball and the bat or any other
Using a combination of cameras and object. It complements Snickometer and Hot
sensors, Hawk-Eye tracks the path of the ball Spot to provide a comprehensive analysis of
from the bowler’s hand to the point of impact possible edges.
with the batsman or the stumps. This data
is then used to predict where the ball would Decision Review System (DRS)
have gone had it not hit the batsman’s leg, The Decision Review System, commonly
enabling umpires to make more accurate known as DRS, combines various
decisions. technologies, including ball-tracking
systems, Snickometer, Hot Spot, and Ultra
Snickometer Edge, to assist both players and umpires
Snickometer, often referred to as Snicko, in reviewing decisions. It allows teams to
is another technology used for making challenge on-field decisions, primarily in
decisions regarding edges and catches. It the context of LBW and caught-behind
helps in determining if the ball has made dismissals.
contact with the bat or any other part of The DRS has had a significant impact on
the batsman’s body, and whether it was a the game, reducing errors and enhancing
legitimate catch. It operates by measuring the quality of decision-making. However,
audio frequencies, detecting the sound of it’s important to note that DRS’s accuracy
the ball touching the bat, and displaying this depends on the availability and quality of
information graphically. This technology, technology at each match venue.
combined with slow-motion replays, has
become invaluable in reviewing contentious
dismissals.
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